Process and apparatus for recovering metals from liquids.



C. E. HOLLAND. PROCESS AND. APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING METALS FROMLIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED DUI-10.1913- Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

2 SHhtlS-SHEET1- mwm AT R/VEY A c. E. HOLLAND. PROCESS AND APPARATUS FORRECOVERING METALS FROM LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FlLED DEC. 10, 1913- 1,205,20?

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES 1 l A TT/VEV rrnr F cnmnns E. HOLLAND, OF NEW ronxjnr. Y.,AssIenon 'ro METALS ELECTRO- RECOVERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ARIZONA.

PROCESS AND APPARATU S FOR RECOVERING METALS FROM LIQUIDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 211, acre.

Application filed December 10, 1913. Serial No. 805,716.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. HOLLAND, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the borough of Brooklyn, city and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of andApparatus for Recovering Metals from Liquids, of which the following isa specification. I

My invention is intended to be used in reclaiming and recoveringv metalsin solution or suspension from water' or other liquids, liquid solutionsand compounds. It is particularly applicable to the recovery of gold andsilver from running streams, in the vicinity of gold and silver mines,which usually contain a considerable quantity of gold and silver insuspension and solution which comes from mine, stamping, concentrating,cyanid, smelting or other mills and plants, and which has heretoforebeen carried away in the water and lost.

One of the objects of my invention is to recover or reclaim from thestreams in the vicinity of such mines and mills substantially all themetal which 'has heretofore been lost, so that there will be no waste orloss whatever.

Other objects will appear from the hereinafter description.

My invention will be fully understood from the foregoing descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

which forms a part of this application.

Referring to the drawin in which the same reference character in 'catesthe same part in the several views: Figure 1 is a to be treated isconducted into the collecting tank A, from which it flows by gravitythrough the pipe a, into the bottom of the precipitating tank B, whichis provided with a number of plates I), made of metal, and as used by meof aluminum, which extend into the tank to within about six inches ofthe bottom thereof. At their upper ends these plates are provided withconnectors 6 The plates are alternately connected to conduct- 1ng wires6 and b the terminals of which are connected to a pole changer b, whichis operated intermittently to reverse the current in each plate therebythrowing off the metal that has attached itself, the flow of thewaterintercepting it and thereby carrying a certain part of the metal tothe surface before it can reach the other pole. The solution thenoverflows over the top of the tank and into the trough b secured to theside of-the tank. From the trough b the solution is discharged into aheader C which has outlets c, which discharge into the settling tanks D.On-- each pole reverse the surface. The excess water is drawn off from athe tanks D, and discharged by suitable devices d, which may lead to acommon header not. shown. 'From the settling tanks D the product orsettlings flow by gravity through pipes f and header F to the leachingtanks G, where it is subjected to treatment with a cyanid solutionsupplied from the tanks H. Pipes 9 carry the solution from the leachingtanks G to the tank J used to accumulate a head or pressure. From thistank the solution passes through the pipe 7' into the recovery tank K,in which by electrolytic action, the metals are deposited onto sheets ofmetal, preferably lead foil held in suitable supporting frameshereinafter described. The slimes may be drawn off through pipes 7cleading to sumps L. A pipe line m in which is a pump M is providedto'conduct the liquid part of the slimes from the sumps L back to thesolution tanks- H where it may be regenerated.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that I held in place in the tank Kby guides 70' and 70 respectively, formed by securing cleats k and isinside of the tank.v Each of the baffles P is made in the form of arectangular frame having a sheet of material, preferably lead foil 7?stretched between its upper and lower ends or cross pieces 2 and 72Clamp bars 7), 79 are adj ustably secured by bolts and nuts 29 and 7)respectively, to the upper and lower cross bars 79" and p By thisconstruction the sheet of foil 7) is secured to the frame in such mannerthat it may be readily attached to or removed from the frame when theclean up is made. Each Vertical edge of the frame I may be provided witha tongue or feather p to fit in the guides to hold the baflie or frame Pin its proper position in the tank K. Each frame 1 is provided on itsupper edge with connectors Q. which may beconnected with a suitablesource of electric current. The batlie plates 0 are made of metal,preferably of aluminum, and are also provided with connectors, notshown, similar to the connectors Q attached to the frames P.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. The process of recovering or reclaiming metal from water or otherliquid which consists in collecting the liquid into an open topreceptacle, passing an electric current through the liquid so collected,intermittently reversing the electric current while passing through theliquid causing the liquid to overflow from the receptacle, separatingthe excess water from the products or settlings treating the productsor'settlings with a cyanid solution, then "subjecting the same toelectrolytic action, and then separating the liquid from theelectrolytic deposit.

2. The process of recovering or reclaiming metal from water oi otherliquid which consists in passingan electric current through the liquid,intermittently reversing the electric current while passing through theliquid then causing the liquid to flow from its surface then separatingthe excess liquid from the products or settlings, treating the settlingswith a cyanid solution, separating the metal by electrolytic action fromthe liquid by electrolytic deposits, and removing the liquid from theelectrolytic deposits.

The process of recovering or reclaiming metal from Water or otherliquid, which consists in passing the liquid into and out of a chambercontaining a series of electric conductors, passing an electriccurrentthrough said conductors, intermittently reversing the electriccurrent, thereby forming hydrogen gas which assists the minute particlesof metal to rise to the top of the liquid, the flow of liquid alsocarrying particles of metal to the top while they are in suspensionafter theiri'clease from the electric conductors on reversal of thecurrent, then separating the liquid from the metal so collected, as andfor the purpose set forth.

4. In the process of recovering or reclaiming metal from water or otherliquid, continually collecting the products or settlings,

treating the settlings with a cyanid solution,

subjecting the same to electrolytic action, separating the liquid slimefrom the electrolytic deposit returning the liquid portion to the cyanidsolution and re-generating the same.

In an apparatus of the class described, a tank to hold water. or otherliquid'containing metal, a tank having ,a series of plates extendinginto the same near the bottom thereof, a pipe leading from the firsttank to the second tank, a series of electric wires connected to saidplates, a pole changer connected to said wires, a trough connected tothe side of the tank, a settling tank connected to said trough, aleaching tank, pipes connected to the settling tank and the leachingtank, a tank containing a cyanid solution, pipes connecting the leachingtank with the cyanid tank, a recovering tank, pipes connecting therecovering tank and the leaching tank, a series of anode plates and aseries of cathode plates arranged in said arecovering tank in baflieformation, electric connections to each series of plates, and an outletleading from said recovering tank.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a tank having a series ofplates extending into the same near the bottom thereof, a series ofelectric wires connected to said plates, a pole changer connected" tosaid wires, a settling tank connected to the first mentioned tank, aleaching tank,"a pipe connecting the settling tank and the leachingtank, a recovering tank, a pipe connecting the recovering tank and theleaching'tank, a se-- ries of anode plates and a series of cathodeplates, arranged in said recovering tank in bafile formation, electricconnections to each series of plates, and an outlet pipe leading fromsaid recovering tank.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a tank having a series ofplates extending into the same near the bottom thereof, a series ofelectric wires connected to said plates, a pole changer connected tosaid wires, a leaching tank connected to the first mentioned tank, arecovering tank, a pipe connecting the recovering tank and the leachingtank, a series of anode plates and a series of cathode plates arrangedin said recovering tank in baffle formation, electric connections toeach series of plates, and an outlet from said recovering tank.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, a tank having a series ofplates extending into the same near the bottom thereof, a series ofelectric wires connected to said plates, a pole changer connected tosaid wires, a

recovering tank, connect-ions between the first mentioned tank and therecovering tank, a series of anode plates and a series of cathode platesarranged in said recovering tank in bafile formation, electricconnections to each series of plates, and an outlet from said recoveringtank.

v 9. In an apparatus of the class described, a tank, a seriesofseparated anode plates in said tank, a series of cathode framesalternating with said anode plates, each cathode frame having anadjustable bar at each end thereof and a sheet of metal connected tosaid bars and electric connections suitably connected to each series ofplates.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, a tank, a series ofseparated anode plates in said tank, a series of cathode frames altermating with said anode plates, each cathode frame having an adjustablebar at each end thereof and a sheet of lead-foil connecting said barsand electric connections between each series of plates.

nating with said anode plates, each cathode frame having a bar at eachend thereof, a sheet of lead-foil connected to said bars and meansconnected to said bars and extending through the ends of the frame toadjust said bars.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, a tank, a series ofseparated anode plates in said tank, a series of cathode framesalterber, 1913.

CHARLES E. HOLLAND. In presence of,

JOHN J. R-ANAGAN, ISABEL R. RICHARDS.

